Scottish band on a busy N.Z. tour

Press, 20 December 1986, Page 40

Scottish band on a busy N.Z. tour

By

WARWICK IVERSEN

The visiting Scottish band, Rua, are not afraid of hard work if their present New Zealand tour is any indication. Their performance at the Summer Times “3ZB Party in the Park” tomorrow will be one of 35 concerts the band will give in New Zealand.

Rua play a handful of cover versions but the band’s strength is their innovative original songs played in the traditional style. Singer and mandolin player, lain Macleod, acknowledges similarities with the popular English band, The Pogues, who sing about the wild side of

Celtic culture. “Rather than sing about, we just do it,” said another member, Jimmy Young. This is the second visit to New Zealand for two of the band members.

The band have seen several New Zealand acts and enjoy the music of Christchurch’s Bushfire and the Milligans. However, they recognise the restrictions that such bands must endure because of the pressure to play “good-time pub music:”

The folk trio will leave for Australia early next year and are not due back in Scotland until April,

1987. They also have studio time booked for next August when they will record their second album.

Dave Robb is the other vocalist in Rua and he also plays bouzouki and guitar. Jimmy Young is the third member and has a reputation as one of the finest flute players in Scotland. He also plays Northumbrian pipes and whistles.

Rua only play what pleased them — and, fortunately, their audiences, judging by the enthusiastic reception they received at Warner’s Hotel this week.